Governments around the world are rushing to clamp down on the drug-laced ‘zombie’ vapes after horrifying videos showed teenagers suffering seizures in the street
Disturbing new footage shows young users of ‘zombie’ vapes convulsing in the street – as evidence grows that the drug-laced pens are already being sold on the black market in Britain.
In one new clip from mainland China, a teenage girl is seen lying down in front of a corner shop with her two male friends as she appears to shake uncontrollably. A startled shop worker looks on as her two friends, apparently undisturbed by the incident, sit idly by. Later, a voice is heard calling for someone to call an ambulance.
It’s only the latest video to show the after-effects of ‘zombie’ or ‘moon oil’ vapes, with similar videos emerging from around the world as authorities desperately attempt to stamp out the trend.
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These vapes often contain the powerful anaesthetic etomidate, synthetic cannabis (spice), or the horse tranquiliser ketamine. They are thought to be especially popular among teenagers, as they are at first glance indistinguishable from the average e-cigarette pen.
But the high dose of deadly drugs contained in the oil can leave users suffering severe reactions and a number of psychological issues, with young people especially at risk, as their brains are still developing. A public outcry over moon oil vapes gripped Hong Kong last year after videos appeared to show young people openly using them on the island’s MTR public transport system.
The territory now punishes possession of the devices with fines of up to HK$500,000 (£47,500) and potential jail time. Penalties are even tougher in Singapore, which last year announced a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars for anyone supplying zombie vapes.
A random sample of 100 seized vapes found that a third contained etomidate. And in Sydney, police made Australia’s first-ever arrest for the supply of drug vapes last August after a raid found dozens of cartridges allegedly loaded with nitazene – a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than fentanyl.
The worrying trend has also reached British shores – prompting the government to look at whether the current laws on controlled substances are tough enough to ban them. In 2024, five teenagers in London were hospitalised after ingesting vapour from pens containing spice.
This led Michael Cole, Professor of Forensic Science at Anglia Ruskin University, to warn that there was a “growing problem” with unregulated vape liquids. He added: “This is why it’s so important for users to think carefully about what vape products they use.”
Policing minister Sarah Jones said in January that she was looking to introduce new legislation “when time allows”, after an advisory council recommended that police and trading standards begin sending samples of seized vaping products for testing. This would primarily test for traces of traces of etomidate, with Border Force officers also instructed to look for evidence of illicit devices being smuggled into the country under the plans.
